This lovely maison de ville is right on the square of the popular market town of Quillan, SW France. From the balcony, you can view the river and the ancient castle, and be in the center of various festivals. Attractively furnished with period antiques, high quality linens, comfy beds, this spacious home offers open living and dining room, well equipped French kitchen, 4 bedrooms (2 ensuite), large family bathroom, and 2 additional WC's, plus a grand balcony overlooking the Square.
The Space
Upon entering Tout le Monde, there's a salon for casual gatherings, a half-bath with sink and toilet, plus a laundry area containing a washer, dryer and drying racks. Going up the winding staircase to level 1, you'll find the large main living and dining room which connects to the grand balcony via 3 sets of French doors. The balcony has a wonderful view of the Square below, the old bridge the crosses the Aude River, plus the Chateau de Quillan above. It's a fantastic place for people watching while enjoying a morning coffee or evening apero. Adjoining the living area is the very French galley kitchen, which is very well equipped for preparing nearly any meal. Next to the stairs is another half-bath containing a sink and toilet. On the 2nd level are 2 double ensuite bedrooms. One contains a king bed, a dressing area adjacent to the full shower room containing sink, toilet and walk-in shower. The other has a double bed (140 cm), a desk space, and is connected to another full shower room with sink, toilet and shower. The two other bedrooms on the 3rd level have a double and single bed in the larger bedroom, and a single bed in the 4th bedroom. Those two bedrooms share a family bathroom containing a tub/shower combination, sink and toilet. All bedrooms have a space for hot beverage preparation. There are cotton towels and hairdryers in all bathrooms.
All amenities, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, cafes, restaurants, bars, and the public pool, are within walking distance. Just a short walk away is access to swim in the River Aude.
Guest Access
The house has 4 floors, with living areas on the ground floor and another on the 1st floor, then bedrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Access is via a key box on the front door.
Notes
Quillan is 90 minutes driving time to the Mediterranean beaches, 2 ski stations, and to Spain. Located in the Cathar region, it has numerous castle ruins to explore, including the UNESCO Heritage site of Carcassonne (50 minutes by car). Additionally, river rafting, hiking and biking trails abound. Fishing is popular, either in the River Aude or at the St. Bertrand fishing lake. Also, there is a swim lake at St. Betrand park, complete with loungers and a sandy beach. Many of the local cafes and/or bars offer live music on the weekends.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Long term
Weekend
Adventure
Budget
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Village
Mountains
Beach
Water
Skiing
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
Good public transport
Accessibility
Step free access
Accessible switches
Accessible door handles
Accessible parking space
House Rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Smoke free
Low allergen
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
Since Tout le Monde is on a main square in Quillan, there are cafes, restaurants, and bars very nearby. Some of the annual festivals take place on this square, and great music can be enjoyed, along with food vendors selling local dishes. In summers, a weekly night market takes place on Thursdays in July and August. Just around the corner is the street where the regular Wednesday and Saturday fresh produce markets occur. Just across the square is the old bridge, which crosses the River Aude. Beyond the bridge is a walking path to explore the castle ruins, and that leads to hiking paths further up the hill. Short-term parking is in front of the house for easy grocery and luggage unloading. Longer term, free public parking is about 100 meters away and easily accessed.
Getting to my home
There are many airports by which to access the area: two small regional airports at Carcassonne and Perpignan, and international airports at Toulouse and Barcelona. If you do not have a vehicle, it's best to rent one, though this area does have access to trains via the Lio bus line, which stops in Quillan. Quillan is between Toulouse and Perpignan. The route from either is via national highways and/or toll roads. The drive from Toulouse is approximately 1 1/2 hours, and from it's 3 hours from Barcelona.
Nearest airport
Carcassonne, Toulouse, Perpignan, Barcelona, Girona airports are all reasonably accessible.
Getting Around
All amenities are within walking distance, or via bicycle (we have two that you can use). The local area Lio bus charges 1 euro for transportation to Limoux, Carcassonne to the north, and to Perpignan to the south. From there you can catch a train to other parts of France of into Spain. Having your own vehicle or a rented car will certainly give you more flexibility. Private car rental through Turo offers some good rental rates, as does Cargo.com in Limoux. If we haven't taken our vehicle, it's possible to use it with a supplement to the insurance coverage.
Map of Approximate Location
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Premium
Debi
My husband, Micheal (75 yo) and I (74 yo) are native Texans. We retired in 2014 to travel, primarily in Europe and the UK. We spent years housesitting, workingaway, and couch surfing, during which time we met amazing hosts and learned so much about their cultures. We now live in Quillan, France, where family and friends visit and discover the richness of life in a small French town. We continue to explore the world and have a bucket list for the coming years. Micheal is an avid reader, historian, and a former elementary school art teacher. I am a gardener and love to cook. We both enjoy live music and dancing. We are new to exchanging homes, and look forward to more adventures through this fantastic avenue to travel economically while enjoying a "homey" environment.
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